U2 record birthday message for Nelson Mandela

During a gig at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field the Irish rockers recorded special rendition of 'Happy Birthday' during their final encore along with the sold-out attendance.

The birthday message will be shown to Mandela during a birthday party for the staunch human rights activist.

Bono in the past has worked tirelessly on behalf of Mandela's 46664 AIDS charity and even co-wrote the organisation's theme song with the late Clash singer, Joe Strummer.

Morgan Freeman, who played the former South African leader in the film, Invictus, will host the event at New York City's Four Seasons and he said of the honour:

"I've played a general, the head of the CIA, a chauffeur, a detective and the president. I'm not any of those things. I guess I could have been. But I could never have hoped to be Mandela."